LANSING, MI. – In conjunction with the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, the Lansing Lugnuts announced a 2012 season-opening roster brimming with Major League talent.

Lansing’s starting rotation will be headlined by the dynamic Justin Nicolino, Aaron Sanchez and Noah Syndergaard, ranked by Baseball America as Toronto’s 5th, 6th and 7th best prospects respectively.

That promising trio will be joined in the rotation by 2011 sixth round pick Anthony DeSclafani, lefty Dave Rollins and Central Michigan University’s Jesse Hernandez.

The Lugnuts bullpen will be led by the 6’6 duo of Kramer Champlin and Ajay Meyer, accompanied by 6’5 Blake McFarland. Brandon Berl returns for his second season in Lansing, with newcomers Javier Avendano and Tyler Ybarra filling out the pen.

The starting lineup features familiar names in catcher Carlos Perez (Toronto’s #14 prospect), first baseman K.C. Hobson, third baseman Bryson Namba and outfielder Markus Brisker, all of whom were part of the 2011 Lugnuts team that reached the Midwest League Championship Series.

Speedy Kenny Wilson also comes back to Lansing to open 2012; the former 2nd round pick patrolled the outfield for the Lugs in 2009 and 2010.

The 2012 Lugnuts first take the field at 7:05 p.m. on a Thirsty Thursday, April 5th, with the sixth annual Crosstown Showdown between the Lugnuts and Michigan State Spartans, presented by Auto-Owners Insurance. The first 2,000 fans to enter Cooley Law School Stadium will receive commemorative baseballs.

Purchase your tickets for the Crosstown Showdown or any of the Lugnuts’ 70 Midwest League home games either online at www.lansinglugnuts.com or by calling the box office at 517-485-4500.

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